The original building, a single storey bungalow, called 'Barnes Hall', was constructed as the holiday residence of Sir Edward Barnes, the fifth Governor of Ceylon (1776-1838). It was rented to his successor as Governor, Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton. On 12 April 1892 it was sold to the Nuwara Eliya Hotels Company Limited. The total area, which was in three separate lots amounted at approximately 27 acres. (wiki)
The train ride from Colombo to Kandy and up into the tea plantations of Sri Lanka's hill country is truly wonderful, not just transportation but a classic journey that's easily the best train ride in Sri Lanka.
